Tuesday, August 07, 2007

By request - music and meaning...

By request for Ms. Monica...

Okay, so I love a good protest as much as the next bitch (wink)…but this one just doesn’t resonate with me.

Al Sharpton has launched the Decency Initiative to rid rap lyrics of “objectionable” language by encouraging divestment in the corporations that produce the objectionable music.

He has lined up 20 cities for a day of outrage.

Blink.

Oh, I’m outraged about a whole lot of shit going down in the city…but, ummm…I’m still not feeling this.

I agree that some words are offensive…but this bitch doesn’t dig the notion of banning language.


I like the sound of “Decency Initiative”, though.

Pause…consider…continue.

But it could use a more strategic purpose.

How about using the Decency Initiative to recruiting black adults as mentors? St. Louis programs are desperate for black mentors to participate in the lives of chil’ren and young adults…which may actually result in those youngsters not seeing each other as lesser than and not articulating the language of Southern trees and strange fruit.

Or….

How about using the Decency Initiative to foster a dialogue within the community about music? Oh, and kick it off with some respect instead of the current holier than thou pontification that landed this topic in the news but failed to inspire a constructive discussion of a damn thing except Al Sharpton and pension funds?

Or…

Why not use the Decency Initiative to provide food for the hungry…to provide clothes for the thousands of youth who will miss the first week of school because they don’t have a motherfucking uniform or to recruit more people of color to teach.

How about we put the bullhorn down, drive to the ‘hood and participate in the community as equals not prophets…with respect rather than a lecture…and with some motherfucking commitment rather than a ‘I’m here as long as the camera is on’ performance?

Blink.

Oh, I understand divestment just fine.

But wouldn’t the decent move be to divest in bullshit and invest some of that energy into empowering people?

After all, if we want the people to sing of joy we might want to give them some to sing about…

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

i'm gonna say it one more time.....you need to run for somebody's office!

Anonymous said...

"But wouldn’t the decent move be to divest in bullshit and invest some of that energy into empowering people?"

One would think ...... THIS statement on the shit is the only decent thing I have heard in YEARS.

yes yes...you totally understand...

Hugs AOB

Kevin Andre Elliott said...

"you need to run for somebody's office!"

Y'know, before I followed the feed link over here, I thought the same damn thing.

Keep bringing it, ABB. You are inspiring.

Anonymous said...

Slap a blonde wig on him and call him Tipper Gore!

Matthew said...

we love you

Frogspond said...

Amen Sister!!

Like the part about Strange Fruit.

Unknown said...

ABB..are you saying Al is full of batshit? Cuz if you are...

I agree, it seems Al is only good at bitching..he never seems to DO anything that helps the individuals that need it.

When my son was young, I let him listen to anything he wanted, but we would discuss the music and what it 'said' to him too..he was the one that told me one day that rap wasn't good, it made all women sound like bad people..and he was only 10 at the time.

Not bad for a little white/hispanic kid eh?

I had no idea how to respond except to agree with him, but then I did tell him it was someone else's pov and he didn't need to think that way because he heard it on a song, he needed to think or himself.

he said: I know momma, I love women, they take care of people and raise their kids alone(I was a single mother), they are good people..so why would these men talk bad about them?

It was a tough discussion lemme tell ya..

virgomusic said...

Thanks for this. You're right on the money -- the sanctimonious approach will never work, but being with people where they are might do some good.

The Gumdrop Stage of Grief ...

So many of you have shared condolences and support after the death of my beloved brother Bill from COVID-19. I wish I could thank you indiv...